Vietnamese revolutionary and government minister Vo Nguyen Giap joined the Communist underground against the French in the 1930's. He was responsible for organizing the Viet Minh into a fighting force capable of defeating the French at Dien Bien Phu in 1954. Giap served as Defense Minister and commander of the North Vietnamese army. After several military setbacks, including the Tet Offensive and the Easter Offensive, Giap was replaced as commander by Van Tien Dung; in 1980 Dung also took over the Defense Ministry role.
After several military setbacks, including the Tet Offensive...
Most don't get it, but this is true. Tet was a disaster for Giap, but it's always portrayed as a North Vietnamese victory by the media. One account I've seen (sorry don't have it at hand) even posited the theory that it was a cynical North Vietnamese attempt to wipe out the Vietcong, so as to leave the NV with no post-war competition.
You will want to read this
Interesting comments about Uncle Walter and the Media.
SPECIAL ISSUE = The American Legion Magazine = September 2003
Syndicated on nearly 500 stations through Westwood One Radio.
Excerpt
Without doubt, it can be said the enemy viewed reporters as tools for achieving their goal of victory. "Our purpose is, through a progression of all-out attacks, to cause many U.S. casualties and so erode the U.S. will that the antiwar influences will gain decisive political strength," said Pham Van Dong, former prime minister of North Vietnam. Moreover, Ho Chi Minh famously predicted, "For everyone of yours we kill, you will kill 10 of ours. But in the end, it is you who will grow tired."
The biggest single question of media influence on the outcome of the Vietnam War centers on the Tet Offensive of Jan. 31, 1968, and ample evidence shows that headlines dealt a lot more with expectations than fact.